For over a century, Chiquita Brands International, formerly United Fruit Company, has been involved in inciting and funding violence in the banana growing region of Colombia. In spite of this, the company has been fairly successful in maintaining their family-friendly image in the United States.
Since 2007, thousands of victims have come forward detailing the horrific acts of violence and displacement they endured during the 1990s and early 2000s. Some of the details of the violence are shocking and gruesome. And while many survivors want justice for themselves and their family members, there is a lingering fear of retaliation if they were to come forward and share their stories themselves.
The limited photos or videos of the paramilitaries or of Colombia during this period of time made it difficult to challenge the bright image Chiquita portrays, as well as to share the stories of the victims. While thinking through options of how to protect the individuals and portray these stories with sensitivity and compassion, we elected to work with cartoon artist Camilo Aguirre to depict both the history of Chiquita’s involvement in Colombian violence as well as the true story of one family who suffered greatly from that violence.
“Fear became a constant companion, and the shadow of violence seemed to have no end.”
Through cartoons, we can look into the past and connect with the people who suffered at the hands of the paramilitaries. Survivors can share their stories while protecting individual identities. This art form has the ability to balance the responsibility of telling these stories accurately while depicting scenes of violence with compassion and respect. This comic aims to shed light on the dark history Chiquita has worked so hard to hide.
In June of 2024, the first case concluded in finding Chiquita guilty. The story does not end with this verdict, as thousands are still seeking justice.
